How to Improve your Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can cause a lot of problems for our health; especially for people with allergies or asthma. Since we spend most of our time indoors, this air is what actually affects us the most, and many times indoor air quality is actually worse than outside. Taking a few steps to improve the air quality in your home is easy and impactful.
Clean Up
The first step is to get rid of any dust or pollutants currently in your home. This is a basic cleaning of your home but there are a few air quality specifics you will need to work on as well.
● Replace air filters
To improve indoor air quality check the filters for your central air system. These need to be replaced frequently because, as they become filled with dust and debris they are not as effective at removing these from the air. This simple swap can make a huge difference in the air quality being circulated through your home.
● Check ductwork
While you’re replacing the air filter take a look at the inside of the ductwork itself. If there is a lot of dust or debris, changing the filter will only get you so far. You may want to consider contacting a specialist to have your ductwork professionally cleaned.
● Invest in a good vacuum
Along the same lines, investing in a good vacuum with a good filter will help increase air quality. Carpets are great at holding on to allergens and other pollutants so investing in the right vacuum is especially important if your home has carpet. Having your carpets steam cleaned periodically will make your home look fresh and give your lungs a needed break.
Prevention
Now that you have done all that work to clean your home, it is time to make sure that all those pollutants don’t find their way back in and downgrade your indoor air quality.
● Keep dust out
Once your ductwork and air filters are clean, keeping new dust and pollutants from entering the home is important. You can do this by placing mats to go inside and outside every entry door to collect any dust so it’s not tracked and spread throughout the house.
● Keep pets clean
Pets are a wonderful addition to our families, but they can decrease the air quality in our homes. Particularly, animals that are allowed inside and outside, who will pick up pollutants and bring them into your home. So, making sure that you bathe your pets regularly will help keep these outside where they belong.
● Keep humidity in check
Humidity allows fungal growth to develop and areas such as the bathrooms and kitchen are frequent problem spots. Make sure that you have cleaned these areas thoroughly and that they are well ventilated. When taking showers or cooking use the vent fans to expel the extra moisture from the room. Check these filters periodically as well and clean them so that the vents can function properly.
Indoor air quality isn’t something that we think about often, but it has a huge impact on your health. These steps to improve air quality in your home can make life more comfortable for you and your family.